Streak of Below Freezing Temperatures in the Twin Cities

On January 31, 2009 at 10am, the temperature rose to 32 degrees in the Twin Cities. This ended the streak of below freezing temperatures that started at 8AM December 29th, 2008. There were 33nd consecutive days of below freezing temperatures in the Twin Cities. At 33 days, this stretch tied for the 11th longest stretch of below freezing temperatures in the modern Twin Cities record. The last time there was a similar streak lasting 31 days was from January 18 to February 17, 2004.

The average temperature during this time has been 8.0 degrees representing a departure of 5.1 degrees below normal. The coldest temperature during this period was -22 on January 16th. The longest stretch of below freezing temperatures in the Twin Cities in the modern record since 1891 was 66 days during the winter of 1977-78.

In looking at pioneer-era records there was an even longer span of below freezing temperatures. From December 19, 1874 to March 9, 1875 the temperature remained below freezing in St. Paul for 98 days. With scant snow cover during that winter the frost depth was reported to be eight-and-a-half feet in places with water mains freezing. Hydrants were left running in places to prevent more water lines from freezing.
The table below shows the 20 longest stretches of below freezing temperatures in the Twin Cities since 1891.